Essex Police Dispatch - issue 165
Essex Police Weekly Update
News 19 August to 25 August
Clacton: Key arrests follow first Live Facial Recognition deployment
Officers had five positive alerts and made three arrests during the first deployment of our new Live Facial Recognition technology.
Thursday 22 August saw the first deployment of our new Live Facial Recognition vans at the Clacton Airshow.
We use the technology to find people wanted for serious offences, to help enforce orders against those whose faces are put on a ‘watch list’ and to protect those who are vulnerable and at risk of harm.
If your face is not on the watch list, the technology deletes your image in a fraction of a second. It’s not retained and it’s not stored on a database.
The technology is so clever, it can recognise someone’s face even if it is partially covered.
As part of the deployment on Thursday (22 August) and Friday (23 August), there were five positive alerts and three arrests.
These included an arrest relating to a domestic assault and a common assault.
The Live Facial Recognition vans were in Southend on Sunday and will be there again on Bank Holiday Monday.
Southend: Weapons seized and teenager charged after disturbance
Officers responding to an incident of anti-social behaviour in Southend recovered two weapons and have since secured a charge against a teenager.
We were alerted to a disturbance involving a group of young people in Warrior Square Park, Southend, culminating in a further call to us at around 8.50pm on Friday 23 August.
It was reported knives were seen.
After this call, our officers were on scene within three minutes, by 8.53pm, carrying out enquiries and detaining a teenage boy after recovering a baseball bat.
A knife, described as a flick knife, was also recovered from the scene.
Our investigation into the disturbance is continuing and we continue to progress enquiries.
A 17-year-old male, from Southend, who can’t be named because of his age, was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.
He has since been charged with breaching a Community Protection Notice and will appear at Southend Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 24 September.
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Clacton Airshow: Crowds praised for their ‘good humour’
Despite a damp and windy start, the annual Clacton Airshow wowed the crowds and passed off safely and peacefully.
Tens of thousands of people flocked to the seaside town over the two days and enjoyed the town’s attractions as well as the flying displays.
Clacton Community Policing Team Inspector Aaron Homatopoulos praised spectators for their good humour, despite strong winds on Thursday which caused that day’s flight programme to be shortened.
Rochford: Officer injured while making arrest
An officer suffered a broken hand while making an arrest as we responded to reports of a domestic disturbance in Rochford.
We were called out to a property in Canewdon shortly before 4.10pm on Friday 23 August, responding to reports of an assault.
Upon police arrival we found a man attempting to leave the scene in a van.
While making an arrest, an officer suffered a broken hand. He was taken on to hospital where he received treatment.
A 34-year-old man, from Rochford, was taken into custody on Saturday 24 August for questioning on suspicion of common assault and assaulting an emergency worker.
Basildon: Pair arrested in connection with burglary and drugs
Two men have been arrested in connection with burglary and drug supply in South Essex.
Following information received, Roads Policing Unit officers stopped a car shortly before 7am on Wednesday 21 August in Aveley in connection with an investigation into a Basildon burglary the previous evening.
When officers searched their Mondeo, they located a large amount of cannabis and small empty bags, indicating drug supply.
Officers arrested the pair, aged 18 and 19, on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class B drugs and burglary.
Furthermore, the 18-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving with no insurance or driving licence.
Both men have been released on bail whilst detectives from Basildon CID continue to investigate.
Colchester: Arrest made and knife recovered after burglaries
Officers responding to reports of a burglar entering properties armed with a knife in Colchester made a swift arrest and recovered suspected stolen goods.
We first received a call at around 11.45pm on Saturday 25 August, reporting an intruder inside an address in Mersea Road.
The caller reported the intruder was armed with a knife and had since left the property.
Officers were quickly on the scene carrying out an area search and a description of the suspect was taken.
Shortly after 1.05am, while our enquiries were continuing, we received a further call from a member of the public in Blackheath, Colchester, reporting an ongoing burglary at her address.
She told us she had heard a noise which had woken her up, before she saw an intruder in her property.
We stayed on the line with the victim as officers responded.
A short time later, by 1.14am, we stopped and detained a man in a nearby road, recovering a knife.
A computer tablet, believed to have been taken from an address, was also recovered.
A 19-year-old man remains in custody for questioning on suspicion of aggravated burglary.
Braintree: Three arrested for shop theft and £1,000 goods recovered
Roads Policing Unit officers’ quick response results in three people arrested on suspicion of shop theft and £1,000 goods and alcohol recovered.
We were called shortly after 12 noon on Wednesday 21 August, notifying us of suspicious activity in Blyths Meadow, Braintree, where a woman and man were running towards a car and hurriedly trying to get inside it.
An off-duty police officer gave our Force Control Room operator their vehicle registration before their driver headed off in the direction of Chelmsford.
Roads Policing officers were deployed to the scene where they found a discarded bag of medicines, whilst colleagues searched the area for the car.
Officers spotted the Seat car heading west on the A12 at Margaretting, and the vehicle was brought to a tactical stop at Brentwood after a short pursuit in which no one was injured and no cars damaged.
On the back seat of the car was a large amount of stolen goods including alcohol and medications.
The three occupants, a woman and two men, all in their 20s, were arrested on suspicion of shop theft. They remain in custody for questioning in connection with two reports of theft at two stores in Braintree, earlier that same morning.
Thurrock: Man jailed for GBH after hitting man with car
A man who suffered life-changing injuries when a car was deliberately driven at him after a night out in West Thurrock has spoken about the on-going impact on his life.
The 28-year-old was knocked into the air during the incident and spent weeks in hospital. He is still recovering at home more than seven months later.
The victim said:
“My life has completely changed since that night. I can only walk with support of crutches or a frame and am having physio to help get stronger.
"I can’t work and the days are so long, but I’m trying to be positive and rebuild my life.
"I’m really grateful to the police for their thorough investigation and support which ensured my attacker faced justice.”
Brandon Stewart deliberately drove at his victim in a West Thurrock multi-storey car park.
He was jailed for 15 years by the judge at Basildon Crown Court.
Grays: South Asian Heritage Month marked by officers, councillor and community
The Essex Police Multi-Ethnic Support Association (MESA) and Thurrock Councillor Qaisar Abbas organised a special event to mark the South Asian Heritage Month on Friday 16 August 2024 in Grays.
The children and artists wearing traditional dresses participated in different activities. The three cakes were cut to mark Pakistan and India’s independence days and South Asian Heritage Month. The event was supported by volunteers of Best British Centre, QAGS Foundation and Sikh Temple. The Gurdwara also provided refreshments and langar, meals, for the event.
The event was held at Grays Community Hall and attended by MESA Chair, Chief superintendent Jenny Barnett, along with fellow MESA members suerintendent Tim Tubbs, Chief Inspector and Thurrock district Commander Anthony Atkin, Inspector Anokhi Chouhan, Sergeant Sadik Miah, Police Constable Luke Watson, Detective Constable Jessica Newberry, DC Jacob Gray, and Essex Police staff Christian Robinson, Hannah Kelly, Julie Joyce.
Local councillors and residents also attended, including Sri Lankan artist Joseph Seelan and international boxer Amanaio Parascjiv.
Southend: Ninth charge over disorder
A ninth teenager has been charged in connection with an incident of disorder in Southend last month.
Eight people remain remanded in custody following to appear at Basildon Crown Court on 2 September following the incident on 30 July.
Officers responded quickly and robustly following reports of people with weapons, making arrests within minutes.
A ninth person – a 17 year-old from Woodford Green – was arrested onTuesday 20 August and has now been charged with GBH with intent, possession of a bladed article, and violent disorder.
He appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 21 August.
Grays: Possessions returned to families of the 39 lorry death victims
The personal possessions of 39 Vietnamese people tragically found dead in a container in Essex have been returned to their families – marking the closure of
Essex Police’s most complex and far-reaching investigation.
That investigation began in the early hours of Wednesday 23 October 2019, when the 39 men, women and children were found unresponsive in the trailer of a lorry by its driver Maurice Robinson, in Eastern Avenue, Grays.
The lorry had travelled from Zeebrugge in Belgium to the Port of Purfleet.
Each of the 39 victims, and their families, had paid significant sums of money to an organised crime group whose members promised them safe passage to the UK and a life here.
As part of that investigation, 11 people were convicted for their parts in the wider conspiracy, with sentences totalling 117 years in jail.
Eighteen people were also convicted of linked offences in France in November last year.
A delegation led by Detective Chief Superintendent Stuart Hooper from Essex Police and DI Michelle Stoten travelled to Vietnam to repatriate each of the victims’ belongings with their families.
Organised criminal jailed over supply of designer drug
An organised criminal involved in the supply of vast quantities of Class A substances including the designer drug ‘pink cocaine’ has been jailed for 13 years.
Robbie Hasell, 35, admitted to nine drug supply charges across three separate cases after investigations by our Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and colleagues with the Metropolitan Police.
Our investigation followed a number of warrants executed across North Essex earlier this year whereby we were able to link Hasell to messages which clearly detailed plans to supply substances including ‘pink cocaine’.
An expert drug witness explained this substance is a fairly new synthetic designer drug which, despite its street name, is not a variety of cocaine.
It is typically found in powdered form and contains a mix of illegal substances such as Ketamine and MDMA, dyed pink with food colouring.
Messages further showed conversation around the supply of large quantities of cannabis and cocaine.
On Wednesday 5 June this year, we executed a warrant at an address in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire, finding Hasell at the property.
His phone was seized for further interrogation and Hasell was heard to make a significant comments about his drugs supply.
Under our SOCU investigation, Hasell, of Tanys Dell, Harlow, later admitted being concerned in the supply of cocaine, cannabis and ketamine.
He admitted separate charges of supplying cocaine and cannabis in Essex.
Under a separate Met Police investigation, he admitted conspiring to supply cocaine and cannabis, and supplying cocaine and cannabis.
On Friday 16 August at Chelmsford Crown Court, he was jailed for a total of 13 years.
Let's talk
Upcoming community police events across Essex this week
Tuesday 27 August
10:30am to 11:30am
Chelmsford Library, Chelmsford County Hall, Market Road, Chelmsford
10:45am to 11:45am
Rochford Banking hub, West Street, Rochford SS4 1AJ
1pm to 2pm
Miracle House, Silver Island Way, Wickford, SS12 9NR
2pm to 2:30pm
Bures Common
Wednesday 28 August
11am to 12pm
Costa Coffee, 2 Victoria Road, Buckhurst Hill
3pm to 4pm
Lakeside Shopping Centre (Level 2, outside Primark), West Thurrock Way
3pm to 3:30pm
Memorial Hall, Castle Hedingham
4pm to 5pm
Eastgate Shopping Centre Food Court, Southernhay, Basildon SS14 1AG
Thursday 29 August
1pm to 2pm
The Beacon Centre, Drake Road, Chafford Hundred
Friday 30 August
10am to 12pm
Market Square, Saffron Walden
10am to 3pm
Community Day, Opposite Canvey Library, High Street, Canvey Island
10:30am to 12:30pm
Natwest, 132 High Street, Southend on Sea
2pm to 3pm
Chadwell St Mary Information Centre, Brentwood Road
3:30pm to 4:30pm
Bulphan Village Hall, Church Road
Saturday 31 August
9am to 10am
Parkrun, Central Park, Chelmsford
10am to 3pm
Community Day, New town Rec ground
11am to 2pm
Great Dunmow Fire Station, Stortford Road
12pm to 1pm
Cafe on the Water & Gift Shop, Giffords Lane, Downham, Chelmsford
For full details of upcoming events, please visit the Essex Police website and enter your postcode.
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Make sure the metal part (which may be inside the actual fob) fits the door lock(s) & opens the vehicle.
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Tap settings > Around > Two-step verification > Enable.
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This week we remember
Alfred Welham
Alfred Welham served with Essex County Constabulary from 14 July 14 1914. He had barely completed his month long police training when, with the outbreak of war, he was recalled to The Colours on 4 August 4 1914, and rejoined his regiment as Private 7265, 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment. Alfred Welham was one of the gallant Suffolks killed during the action on August 26, 1914.
Brian ‘Bill John Bishop
Bill Bishop served with Essex County Constabulary from 11 August, 1966.
On Wednesday 22 August 1984, with other officers, Bill was called to Central Avenue, Frinton, a short distance from the seafront. This call followed on from reports that earlier in the day a man had robbed two post offices, one in Walton and another in Frinton. It was also known that he had hidden his haul of several thousand pounds alongside a railway embankment. The wanted man had held up the Post Office staff with a sawn-off shotgun and forced them to hand over money before escaping on a motor cycle.
Following the first raid he had been stopped and questioned by police as he fitted the description of the wanted man. He was then taken to his mother's house as she lived nearby. She gave him an alibi and said that he had been at home all afternoon. He was then released to commit the second raid. Meanwhile, police had kept watch on the site where the cash had been hidden. Finally the robber approached carrying what appeared to be just a carrier bag.
Bill Bishop shouted at him `Armed Police. Stop!' at which the robber lifted the carrier bag, which concealed a gun, and shot him in the head. Police Sergeant Mervyn Fairweather was shot in the groin. Another colleague then fired at the gunman, hitting him in the back and side. Bill Bishop died five days later in Saint Bartholomew's Hospital in London. A thirty five year-old Brentwood man was arrested at the scene but, because of injuries he had sustained, he was detained under guard in Colchester hospital and later charged with murder.
Arthur Edwin Jones
Arthur Edwin Jones was a brewer’s clerk for the Inde Coope brewery and served with Essex Constabulary as a Special Constable int he Romford Division.
Arthur volunteered to serve his country and joined the 11th Battalion Essex Regiment in 1916. He later served as Corporal 260114 with the 1st/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment.
On 27th August, Arthur’s 37th Birthday, the Battalion attacked German Lines near St. Julien. The attack was unsuccessful, primarily due to the torrential rain that had fallen in the previous days, the deep heavy mud through which the attack was mounted and entrenched German positions. They faced continuous cross fire from snipers and machine guns. Arthur Jones was mortally wounded during the attack and died two days later. He was 37 years old.
Read more about other Essex officers on the Essex Police Memorial Trust website.